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Issue 193

On the Cover

Member Only

High-performance HVAC systems

The key is in understanding how your building's systems work together

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The Magazine

Paint-Grade Interior Trim

Choosing molding that looks good and finishes well takes more thought than it used to.
A Balcony Deck Built to Last

Durable finish materials hide strong framing connections in a graceful design that overlooks the ocean.
Setting Up an Efficient Job-Site Shop

A veteran trim carpenter shares his strategies for improving productivity, precision, and security.
Plumbing a Basement Bathroom

Cutting through the slab is grunt work of the highest order, but a relatively easy way to get an extra bath.
A Better Home Right Now

This concept home shows how smart design, advanced building practices, and modern technologies improve livability and energy performance.
A Smarter Way to Flash

Removable two-part counterflashing allows access to roof flashings without digging in to the wall.

Article

Fiber Cement Tools

The popularity of this durable, low-maintenance siding has bred a variety of tools to simplify and speed installation.
A Fence Forever

Furniture-grade details dress up a steel-frame fence.
A Clever Kitchen Built-in

Six small boxes joined behind a simple face frame exploit a shallow space.

Cross Section

Germans take first prize in solar competition

College students design and build nearly net-zero energy homes
Web sites we like: February/March 2008 issue

Where to recycle asphalt Want to drop off construction debris somewhere other than the landfill? Look to the Whole Building Design Group’s Web site for a state-by-state list of recycling…
Latinos will drive the next housing boom

Former secretary of the Deptartment of Housing and Urban Development Henry Cisneros predicts an urban renaissance
Psst ... want to buy some unused square footage?

Boulder considers limiting the size of new houses

Tools & Materials

Pint-size miter saw

7-1/4-in. Miter saw with laser trac
Trim takes a spin

Trim Adjustor
Push-fit plumbing

SharkBite push fittings
Studded traction for boots

Stabilicers

Letters

Reader Feedback: Issue 193, February/March 2008

Free electricity is affordable I’m so glad Fine Homebuilding is talking about domestic solar electricity (“The New Age of Photovoltaics,” FHB #192 and online at FineHomebuilding.com). Since going solar three-plus…

Finishing Touches

Celebrating Built-in Storage

Consolidating beauty and function, built-in storage is an efficient, space-maximizing option

What is the Difference

What's the Difference: Fire-resistant drywall

Type X and type C drywall are designed specifically to be used in fire-rated assemblies
What's the Difference: Three-strand twisted rope

Which type for which job?

Building Skills

Pulling stubborn nails

Sometimes, a hammer claw is ideal; other situations might require a cat's paw or a pair of nippers

Master Carpenter

Laminating a curved rail with a vacuum press

When strip-laminating a curved piece of wood, a vacuum press can be a useful alternative to standard clamps

Great Moments

My $14,000 Lamp

Great moments in building history: Who would have thought that a broken lamp would snowball into such an expensive repair job?

Drawing Board

Laying out wainscot paneling

Addressing common problems before layout helps ensure a trouble-free installation

Video

Video Vault: Nail Removal Tricks

Remove nails the right way to salvage boards and save your hands
Custom Knives, Custom Moldings

A tour inside The New England Woodworking Company's millwork shop
Video Vault: Cutting Fiber Cement With a Circular Saw

For straight cuts, a specialized circular saw with a matching blade controls dust
Build Like a Pro: Cutting Curves and Holes in Fiber Cement

A scribe, a hole saw, nibblers, and a jigsaw are all good options when anything but a straight cut is required
Cutting Fiber Cement with Shears

Shears make a nice, clean cut while protecting both your material and your lungs

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